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The Rural England Prosperity Grants are currently closed. New details to follow soon.
The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) is extended with the government providing up to £33m in additional funding for financial year 2025/26. This is a top up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to help address the additional needs and challenges facing rural areas.
This supports the government’s Missions and Farming and Countryside Programme.
Dorset Council has an allocation of £619,966 to support in particular economic growth aimed at improving productivity and strengthen the rural economy and communities.
Plans under the key areas of ‘Community and Place’ and ‘Local Business’ are to deliver interventions that benefit rural business and communities.
What's provided in Dorset?
Business Grants
Capital funding is available for small scale investment in micro and small enterprises, and community projects for:
- new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes farm businesses looking to diversify income streams
- where the funding is intended for farm business diversification projects this must be outside of agriculture diversification
- it cannot be used to fund farm machinery or to diversify within agriculture. Existing DEFRA grant schemes should be used
- support new and improved community infrastructure that provide essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the local economy.
As funding is capital only, grants should be spent on lasting assets such as buildings or equipment.
Grants are only available for activity between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. Grant schemes rules will also apply.
Low Carbon Grants
Low Carbon provides free energy saving advice and grants to help local organisations reduce their carbon emissions and save on energy costs. Available to micro and small businesses for projects within 1 April 2025 to March 31 2026.
Key facts you should know
The majority of the Dorset Council area is eligible, with the main exceptions being the built-up areas of Ferndown, West Moors, Weymouth and Wimborne Minster. Areas of East Lulworth, Holton Heath, Upton and Corfe Mullen are also excluded. Please check the DEFRA Magic Map.
Definition of small and micro business are:
- Micro – where there are 1-9 employees
- Small – where there are 10-49 employees
